Hallie's Story: I Don't Know Who To Love

I appreciated the attention he showered on me-the sweet good morning texts, the casual "How was your day?" messages, and all those other

s were confirmed when, just two weeks after I told him I wasn't ready for a serious relationship after high school, I stumbled upon a video on his social media story. There

serious, meaningful relationship, and the idea of investing my emotions in someone who didn't share that vision felt daunting. I find it incredibly hard to

from high school, they aren't enough to fill the void I felt in this new environment. It was disheartening to realize that no one had even approached me du

r side of campus. The moment I arrived, we fell into an easy rhythm of conversation, sharing stories about what had transpired during our gap year. Wendy filled me in on her first week at college, and I felt a twinge of jealousy as she

t ways, we were approached by two men in their thirties. They were driving a glaring red Camry and tried to get our phone numbers in a way that felt more predatory than charming. I craved attention fr

ecided to watch some videos to unwind. Just as I got comfortable, my phone buzzed with a text from Victor, one of the men who had approached us

ncredibly kind-hearted girls-approached me after noticing me sitting alone quite often. I suppose they felt a bit of sympathy for me and decided to reach out.

Wendy during practice. I had settled into the bleachers, absorbed in the rhythm of the game when Sky unexpectedly joined me. He was charming, with a tall

ntentions weren't serious. He seemed more interested in a physical connection than in truly getting to know me. I appreciated the attention but was looking for something more meaningful. Understanding this fundamenta

ived just a short drive away from the school. Leaving behind the academic chaos and the endless days filled with lectures and assignments, I felt a flicker of hope for the next semester-one that I